Pok Pok @ Portland

byKookyCulinaryonAugust 9, 2011

I have been hearing about Pok Pok for a long time but everytime we go to Portland, it always slips off the radar because of the large group of people that we have. Pok Pok is definitely not a large group-friendly kind of place. In fact, it is more like a outdoor shack with outdoor seating which reminds me of home. They do have a small indoor seating too which would probably be great for the winter. This time around, it was just the 3 of us, so it was a great time to try it out.

First we tried the Papaya Salad with Sticky Rice. A very refreshing dish.

This is the famous Vietnamese Fish Sauce Wings. It was sweet and sticky and very flavorful.Even C liked it.

We also ordered the Muu Paa Kham Waan (Boar Collar Meat).

This dish is served with chilled Mustard Green to conteract the spiciness. However I have to say that for me, it was not spicy enough.

Even though the dishes were pretty good, our favorite was definitely this dish – Khao Soi Kai which is curry noodles. Persnally, I think the secret to this dish is the freshly pressed coconut milk. It makes a huge difference when compared to canned coconut milk which can be overpowering. The freshly pressed coconut milk gives it a mild delicate smell and taste instead.

Oh, I also love the fact that they serve water that has been infused with pandanus leaves. Pandanus or better known as pandan leaves produces a fragrance flavor and is used widely in SE Asian desserts. If you are heading to Pok Pok anytime soon, make sure you are there early or be prepared for a long wait.